Panhandling on the streets of Tampa, Florida has grown to where every median of the major intersections in the city has a panhandling begging for money. Some signs say “lost job; four children; need money for food” others state “who’s kidding, I just want a drink”. It has become quite a problem for the citizens of the City, but one that City Hall is not willing to address. Many citizens claim it will take one of the panhandlers getting killed before the City does anything. One citizen's group is trying to get a referendum on the April ballot to require the City to take action. The City of St. Petersburg, across the bay, ban panhandling from its streets. This just meant all of St. Petersburg’s panhandler’s moved across the bay to Tampa.
On a good day the panhandlers can make up to $60 at a busy intersection. They seem to have their spots staked out. The same young couple is on the corner of Gandy and Dale Mabry every day. The woman wears her hair in a neat blonde bun with clean white bobby socks, white tennis shoes , cuffed blue jean shorts and a shirt. She is clean and attractive and makes a person wonder what her real story is and why she is there. Her male friend has a similar appearance. At the end of the day they walk off together to some unknown location to return again the next day.
If Tampa did not have adequate support services for the homeless, then I too would agree there should be a no solicitation on city streets. But there are quite a few outstanding organizations for these individuals to get a warm meal, clean clothes, and place to help them get back on their feet.
The City Commissioners claim if they created a no solicitation law then the firefighters could not solicit twice a year for their causes. This is an inadequate excuse. The laws could be written to allow particular solicitation on specific days of the year with a permit. The reasons for the cop out are unknown, but if the City does not do something the citizens may take matters into their own hands.
